With our men fighting overseas during WWII, Australia’s women and children were left alone. There was wide-spread fear of invasion from Japan, especially in the wake of the midget sub attacks on Sydney Harbour and with censorship of the Press restricting information.

Queensland declared a war zone and evacuated schools. However the other state governments left it up to individuals to send their children inland to friends or relatives with farms or large houses, with the Victorian government even publishing lists of useful items for evacuee children to take.

Thousands of children found themselves in unfamiliar surroundings for up to three years, sometimes without their mother, whilst their father was serving.

Ann Howard reveals the fascinating and poignant stories of these child evacuees, collected for her forthcoming book: Send The Children Away.